Isolator From A Circulator

2013-05-16

Since circulators contain magnets, they should not be mounted near ferrous metals since the close proximity of metals like iron can change the frequency response.
Shown in picture, if one port of a circulator is loaded, it becomes an isolator, i.e. power will pass from ports one to two, but power reflected back from port two will go to the load at port three versus going back to port one.